1. Red Rock, Roelli Cheese, Shullsburg, Wis.
This cheese is the Miss America of Wisconsin artisan cheeses - it's got it all - brains and beauty. Heck, we bet it would even look good in an evening gown. Hand-crafted by Cheesemaker Chris Roelli at Roelli Cheese Haus in Shullsburg, Red Rock is the must-have cheese of 2012. Made with a double-dose of annatto giving it that deep red color, Red Rock is a creamy Cheddar with blue veins. Dubbed the little brother of Chris' other signature cheese, Dunbarton Blue, Red Rock is perfect on a sandwich or as the stand-alone star on a cheese plate. roellicheese.com

2. Snow White Goat Cheddar, Carr Valley Cheese, LaValle, Wis.Crowned as Best in Show by the American Cheese Society in 2008, this creamy white goat cheese crafted by Master Cheesemaker Sid Cook at Carr Valley is cave-aged for six months to achieve a deep, complex flavor. We hear the folks at Disney occasionally complain about Carr Valley's use of their character's name, but that's just silly. We'd advise they partner with Carr Valley instead, and have Snow White start eating goat cheddar in every Disney classic. Win-win! carrvalleycheese.com

3. Bohemian Blue, Hidden Springs Creamery, Westby, Wis.
This cheese is the tale of what happens when two cheesemakers get together over a cup of coffee and ask: What if? A few years ago, Brenda Jensen of Hidden Springs Creamery, and Tony Hook of Hook's Cheese, teamed up to save America from a potential cheese embargo. The result: Bohemian Blue, designed to compete with Roquefort, lest America and France ever decide to add that threatened 300% tariff on Roquefort, the world's most famous French-made sheep's milk blue. Bohemian Blue, a cave-aged, rindless blue made from sheep's milk from Hidden Springs, and crafted by Hook's Creamery, is an ode to Jensen's Bohemian grandparents. Dry and crumbly, compared to drippy and wet Roqueforts, Bohemian Blue sports a sweet, slightly sour finish. Tres bien! hiddenspringscreamery.com

Great blog! We just started exploring the great cheeses of the world and would like to highlight some truly amazing American-made cheeses...any must-have recommendations from Wisconsin? Check out our little cheese blog too: http://thecheesechasers.blogspot.com/

About Me

Jeanne is a cheese geek and an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional. She is the founder and executive director of Wisconsin Cheese Originals, where she educates consumers about the art and science of artisan cheese through educational seminars and dairy tours. She works as a Cheesemaker Liaison for Metcalfe’s Markets in Wisconsin, helping introduce new products to market. You'll find her byline in a variety of food magazines, including Edible Madison and Culture. During her journey to the world of cheese, she worked as an award-winning journalist, served as spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, and was pivotal in the development of the Dairy Business Innovation Center, a non-profit widely credited for helping reinvigorate the Wisconsin dairy industry in the 2000's. Her motto is: Have Fun. Do Good. Eat Cheese.